Copyholder



Moot-:RR

cormommn Fi1'edoct-s, 195e Oct. 22. 1940.

2v Sheets-Sheet 2 "F-:LIE 5 la i .mw m0 m Wam .1m ,n f M Y B zJ NWN l, J r )P7 2, oz/ -n 9 5 1 7 M ,.J 4 lm'. Hl; Jr c Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES COPYHOLDER Martin Doerr, Oakland, Calif.; George A. Koch executor of said Martin Doerr, deceased Application October 3, 1938, Serial No. 233,011 44 claims. v(Cl. 12o-34) This invention relates to copyholders of the type having a vertically movable transverse bar adapted to be intermittently moved vertically over horizontal lines of writing or printed mat- 5 ter to facilitate the reading and copying thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is an improved copyholder provided with simple and effective means for holding the copy and for quickly, easily and accurately positioning the copy relative to the bar adapted to move thereover.

Another object of the invention is an improved holder in which the actuating mechanism, other than the elements requiring manual engagement for operating the mechanism, is effectively enclosed.

A still further object is an improved mechanism for positively and intermittently moving the transverse bar of the copyholder uniform, predetermined distances, as desired, and which mechanism at the same time permits the operator to freely move the horizontal bar vertically to any desired distance over the copy.

Other objects and advantages will appear in 25 the drawings and description annexed hereto.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a front elevational view of the copyholder.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the holder with part of the rear side broken away to show the internal mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the upper portion of the holder, showing certain parts behind the front wall in dotted line.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of the holder with parts inside the holder in dotted line.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the inside of rear side of the copyholder (broken in length) showing the construction of the foldable supporting arms. v #mi In detail, the copyholder illustrated in the drawings comprises a rectangular, generally boxlike casing of relatively rigid material, such as sheet metal, which casing is elongated and nor- 5 mally supported on a desk or the like in slightly inclined position, with its length extending generally vertically. 'I'he copy I is supported from its upper end against the inclined at front wall 2 of the casing and the rear wall 3 of the casing v The casing is vsupported generally vertically, and with the front wall inclined rearwardly from bottom to top, relative to, an operator facing the front wall, by means of a generally U-shaped supporting member comprising legs 5 disposed at opposite side edges of the casing, which legs are provided with inwardly turned upper end portions 6 (Fig. 5) that pivotally extend through openings in flanges 4 at the upper end of the casing, the inner ends of said portions having stop members I thereon spaced from the flanges, which stop members prevent withdrawal of the portions E from the flanges.

The lower cross piece 8 that connects between the lower ends of legs 5, is disposed adjacent the lower end of the casing, and carries table engaging rubber pieces 9 'thereon so as not to mar the surface of a table, and at the same time to provide resistance -to sliding of the pieces 0n the table.

The U-shaped member is preferably a resilient,

relatively rigid and relatively light metal rod, thus enabling the legs to be sprung outwardly of the side 'edges of the casing until the stopmembers engage the inner sides of the flanges. This movement enables the portionsA of the legs adjacent and belowrsaid portions 6 to be moved over projections I 9 which are secured to and project outwardly of flanges 4 and tothen spring into recesses II formed in the outer ends ofsaid projections for securing the legs rigid relative to the sides with the cross piece 8 spaced from the lower end of the casing, "Thus, when the legs are in recesses II an easel support is provided by the U-shaped member for supporting the holder upright in copy supporting position, and' upon springing the legs out of the recesses, the U- shaped member will swing to collapsed position with the cross piece 8 extending along the lower edge of the casing and the legs extending alongside the side edges. Rubber buttons I2 are preferably secured to thel flanges 4 at the lower end of casing for supporting the lower edge of the casing on a table.

The copy itself is preferably supported against the front surface of the forward side 2 of the casing by means of a rod or bar I3 extending transversely across the upper forward side of the holder, which bar is rotatably supported at its ends in the outer ends ofthe arms I4 of an inverted generally U-shaped frame, the cross piece I6 of which extends across the upper end of the casing. Said frame is preferably formed from a strip of fiat metal with `the at sides of the arms in opposed relation and the flat side of the cross piece facing the` upper end of the casing, thus insuring rigidity of the frame for holding the bar I3 parallel with the front side of the casing.

The bar I3 extends axially through spaced cylindrical rollers I1 that normally engage the outer side of copy, that is against the front side of the holder, the bar may be manually rotated by means of turning knobs I3, or the like secured to the ends of the bar outwardly of the arms I4, whereby the operator may cause the rollers I1 to move the copy upwardly or downwardly relative to the forward side of the casing, or to otherwise'adjust the copy by manual manipulation of the knobs |8 and the copy.

The U-shaped frame comprising arms I4 and cross piece I6 is pivotally secured to the flanges 4 of the forward half of the frame by pivots |9- secured to the arms adjacent and below the cross piece I6, which pivots rotatably extend through the anges 4 at opposite sides of the casing and to within the casing at their outer ends, said outer ends being directed toward each other.

Torsion springs 20 embrace the pivots, one end 2| of each spring extending transversely of the outer end of each pivot and within a transverse slot in said outer end, and the opposite end 22 of each spring resting against the inner surface of the forward side of the casing. Said springs are under tension in a direction for causing the rollers I1 on bar I3 to be yieldably held in close engagement with the outer surface of the forward side of the casing, and to resist movement away from said forward side, whereby copy material of various thicknesses will be firmly gripped between said forward side and the rollers.

Across the outer face of the forward side 3 of the copyholder is a horizontally extending, vertically sliding rule or marker 25 which marker is adapted to extend transversely across the exposed side of the copy I and to be moved downwardly step by step over the copy to indicate the lines of writing or printing to be copied.

The step by step movement of the marker is effected by the actuatingmechanism enclosed within the casing through the operation of a lever extending through the front wall of the casing, which mechanism including the manner of mounting the marker is as follows.

Said marker 25 is preferably of light sheet metal extending at its opposite ends equal distances outwardly of the lateral side edges of the front of the casing, and the ends 26 of the marker and lower margin 21 (Fig. 4) are preferably turned inwardly toward the casing at right angles to the body of the strip or marker. Flat arms 28 normally extend generally upwardly from the ends of the marker, the lower ends of the arms being secured respectively to ends 26 of said marker. Said arms 28 are formed with generally horizontally extending upper end portions 29 (Fig. l.) that extend toward they side edges of the casing respectively adjacent each of the arms and upwardly extending ears 3D at the inner en of said portions are pivotally secured to the upper ends of Hat, vertically extending strips of metal 3| by means of pivots 32. The strips 3| extend downwardly along the flanges. 4 of the forward side of the holder and at the lower end said. strips are respectively provided with an edgewise extending projection 33, 33' that are each bent to opposed relation relative to the flat side of the lower end of the strip carrying the same, thus providing a channel the sides of which embrace opposite sides of the flange 4A with the base lof the holder.

of said channel extending over the free vertically extending edge of the flange adjacent each strip. As will be seen in Fig. 4, the vertical sides of the casing formed by flanges 4, are respectively formed to provide vertical slots 34 for passing the bottoms of the channels formed at the lower ends of strips 3|, and this slot acts as a guide for said channels and for supporting strips 3| parallel with the narrow lateral sides of the casing. Thus arms 23 are free to pivot from the upper ends of strips 3| for swinging of the marker toward and away from the forward side of the holder and toward and away from the exposed side of copy supported between rollers |1 and the side 2 of the holder.

A shaft 35 is supported within the casing at the lower end thereof and behind front wall 2 by a bracket 36, which shaft extends perpendicularly to the front wall. A drum 31 and toothed ratchet wheel 38, are rotatably mounted on said shaft and are secured together for rotation as a unit and at the four corners of the rear side of the front wall of the holder are pulleys 40 to 43 inclusive. A cord 44, or the like is connected at one end to an end of a coil spring 45, which spring connects at the oppositey en-d to the projection 33 on the strip 3| that is at one side of the casing, which cord extends vertically 'upwardly and over pulley 42 at the upper corner of the holder, and the cord then extends downwardly and takes several turns around drum 31 after which it extends over pulley 4U positioned at the lower corner of the holder, which latter pulley is positioned in the corner ydiagonally opposite to pulley 43. From pulley 40 the opposite end of the cord extends upwardly and connects to one end of a coil spring 46, the opposite end of which spring is secured to projection 33 that is opposite the projection 33.

A cord 41 connects at one end to the end of a coil spring 48, the opposite end of which spring connects to projection 33. This cord 41 then extends upwardly over pulley 4|, which is at the upper corner of the holder opposite pulley 42, and from pulley 4I the cord extends downwardly todrum 31, around which it takes several turns, and from said drum the cord continues over pulley 43 that is at the lower corner of the holder directly below pulley 42, and from pulley 43 the cord extends upwardly to lprojection 33 where its opposite end connects to one end of a coil spring 49, the opposite end of which spring 4,3 connects with projection 33.

This arrangement of the cord on a drum is generally similar to the cord shown in United States patent to Hodges, No. 913,891, dated March 2, 1909, except for the method of connecting the cord to the marker.

The foregoing construction provides for raising and lowering the marker 25 upon turning the drum 31, and to insure uniform turning of the drum for causing step by step downward movement of the marker, I provide the ratchet wheel 38 secured to said drum.

This ratchet wheel is caused to turn by means of a spring wire 53, which wire extends generally horizontally across the rear side of the fron-t wall Said wire is slidably and pivotally supported adjacent to, butvspaced from one free end thereof by a loop 5I secured to the rear of side 2 of the casing, through which said end extends. From said loop the wire extends` to a point above drum 31 vwherefa right angle bend relative to said wall 2 is made and the portion so bent slidably extends through a slot 52 that extends longitudinally of an upwardly extending inclined strip 53 and said portion also extends transversely across and above the ratchet teeth 54 on ratchet wheel 38. The point Where said portion extends over said wheel is slightly offset horizontally to one side of the axis of the shaft 35 that mounts the drum and wheel.

From said bent portion of the wire, said Wire is again bent at right angles to continue at 55 in the same generaldirection of .the end of the wire that leads to the bent portion and at a point spaced from said portion the wire makes a return bend 56 with the return end 51 beyond bend 56 terminating in a loop through which extends'a pivot 58 that pivotally connects the lower end of strip 53 with one end -of an elongated metal strip 59. Said strip 59 is pivoted at the opposite end to the shaft 43 that mounts the roller 43 and beyond pivot 58, and on the side thereof away from shaft 43', the strip is extended at right angles through a generally vertical slot 60 formed in wall 2 adjacent the lower end thereof. At the forward side of wall 2 the strip extends horizontally and parallel with the forward side of the wall to provide a manually operable lever or handle B0', which handle is rigid with strip 58. The strip and handle are yieldably held by the end 51 of the spring wire 50 at the upper end of the slot, but upon depressing the handle the bent portion that extends through slot 52 will engage between adjacent teeth of wheel 38 to cause rotation of the wheel 38 and drum 31 and thereby cause the marker 25 to move downwardly across the copy I.

The degree of downward movement of strip 59 will obviously determine the degree of movement of marker 25, and this movement is regulated by a stepped plate El pivotally secured to the rear side of wall 2 by shaft 62, which shaft rotatably extends through said wall. The plate 6l is secured to one end of the shaft and a handle 63 is secured to the end thereof that projects outwardly of the forward side of the holder. Strip 58 is formed with an ear E4 that is adapted to engage notch or step 65 when the handle is swung to the left (front view) or to the right (as seen in Fig. 2). Thus downward movement of ear 64 will be limited by the step 65 when the handle 55' isv depressed, and the degree of movement when the step is so engaged is preferably a distance that will cause marker 25 to be lowered only the distance of single spaced lines on the copy.

Upon moving handle 63 to extend vertically downwardly of shaft 62, the next step 56 on plate 6I will be in the path of movement `of ear 84, which step is sulciently lower than step 55 to cause the marker to move downwardly the equivalent of two spaces, thus adapting the holder for use with copy in which the lines are double spaced, and by swinging the handle 63 to the right (front View) or to the left (as seen in Fig. y

2) until the step SS is out from under the ear 64, then the full downward movement of strip 59 is effected, until the end of the strip adjacent Divot 58 strikes the lower narrow side of the casing. The movement of marker 25 in this latter instance is the vertical distance of three lines, thus adapting the marker for use with copy in which the lines of writing or printing are triplespaced.

The spacing of teeth 54 is, of course, accurately determined relative to the bend in wire 50 at slot 52 in order to insure the ratchet wheel rotating the same distance upon successive depressions of handle 60', and the spring end 51 of the wire will always return the handle 60 to elevated position after each depression thereof.

'I'he springs 45, 46, 48, 48 willv insure the cords 44, 41 remaining taut around the drum, and when the marker is moved to the bottom ofthe holder and is ready for returning to the top of the copy or if it is desired to position the marker at any particular position on the copy, the operator merely grasps the marker and moves it upwardly or downwardly, as may be desired and after the marker is positioned in the desired place, continued intermittent downward movement 'is effected by intermittently depressing handle 563. A projection 51 on said marker may be used for grasping by the fingers of the operator for direct manipulation of the marker.

The flanges 4 at the narrow sides of the holder may be formed on both the front and rear sides of the holder, at the top and bottom thereof, as illustrated in the drawings, with the flanges in overlapping relation, and with the flanges at the opposite vertically extending sides of the holder Vspaced apart at their free edges to provide the slots 34 for slidably passing the bottom oi the U-shaped channel carried by members 3| for vertically guiding said members.

Where a relatively thick book, such as a stenographers note book, is to be supported by the holder, a leaf spring 6B (Fig. 3) may be secured at one end to one end of cross piece IS, for yieldably urging the free end of the spring upwardly and over the book that is folded to extend over cross piece I6 and the arms 28 that carry the marker 25 are `sulciently long to enable the marker to freely swing outwardly of side 2 a distance sufficient to enable placing of any reasonable number of sheets between the marker and .the side 2 without causing undue frictional resistance to sliding of the marker thereover.

Theoperation of the copyholder, as above described, is thought to be obvious. The provision of manually manipulated rollers l1 for holding the copy and for facilitating positioning is considered highly important in copyholders of this general character. Also the provision of a substantially enclosed mechanism for actuating the marker, and the simplicity of the holder and its economy of manufacture together with structure that enables speedy and accurate manipulation of the marker with great accuracy to practically any desired position, are features that are considered novel in the art.

Having thus described claim is:

1. In a copyholder of the character described having a normally generally vertically disposed front plate formed with a flat, planar surface for supporting a sheet o-f copy thereagainst, means arranged and adapted to removably secure a sheet to said plate with the sheet overlying said surface, a marker extending transversely across said surface and across a sheet adapted to be supported thereagainst, means for causing intermittent downward movement of said marker, said means comprising cords behind said plate connected with opposite ends of said marker and' extending over pulleys supported on said plate, a plurality of such pulleys secured on the rear side of said plate, a drum around which said cords extend in frictional engagement therewith for moving the cords upon revolving said drum, means rotatably mounting said drum on the rear side my invention, what I of said plate, drum actuating means for intermittently revolving said drum including a handle projecting forwardlyfrom the side of the plate opposite the rear side thereof and positioned adjacent the lower end of said plate and a ratchet wheel secured to said drum for revolving therewith, means movably mounting said handle for predetermined generally oscillatory movement of said handle and a member connected with said handle adapted to operab-ly engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel at predetermined points therearound upon movement of the handle in one direction for turning said wheel a predetermined distance, whereby the marker will move a predetermined distance upon such movement of the handle.

2. In a copyholder of the characterl described having a normally generally vertically disposed front plate formed with a flat, planar surface for supporting a sheet of copy thereagainst, a horizontal marker extending across said surface, means mounting said marker for vertical sliding movement over said surface and over a sheet of copy against said surface, including means suspending the marker at its opposite ends for swinging the marker toward and away from said surface, manually actuatable means for intermittently sliding said marker downwardly over said surface uniform predetermined distances, a plurality of pulleys and a drum concealed behind said plate, cords extending over said pulleys, drums connecting between said manually actuatable means and said marker for transmitting the movement of the manually actuatable means to said marker for causing the downwardly sliding 'movement of the latter, said cords being concealed behind said plate and the means suspending the marker being arranged and adapted to permit swinging of the marker at any time during its travel downwardly over said plate.

3. In a copyholder of the character described, a flattened, rectangular housing, the outer surface of one of the Ilat sides of said housing being arranged and adapted to support a sheet of copy thereon, a horizontally elongated marker extending across said side, arms respectively secured at one of their ends to the ends of said marker and cords enclosed within said housing to which the opposite ends of said arms are secured for swinging movement whereby the marker is swingingly supported for swinging toward and away from said surface, pulleys and a drum concealed within said housing and supported from o-ne of the sides thereof over which said cords extend for movement, said cords being arranged and adapted to move the marker transversely of its length over said surface when the cords are moved, and a reciprocably mounted lever extending transversely through an opening in the side of the housing adapted to support said sheet, and means for causing said movement of said cords.

4. A copyholder comprising a pair of rectangular spaced, opposed, flat plates, flanges on each plate extending toward the other and the flanges on one plate being arranged to telescopically t within the flanges of the other plate whereby the plates and their flanges will form the sides of an enclosed, flattened, rectangular housing when said flanges` are in telescopic engagement, a meansfor supporting said housing in generally vertically extending position on a table, a marker extending horizontally across the outer surface of one side of said housing, means within said housing supporting said marker for moving vertically across said surface, said means including arms extending from opposite ends of the marker and parallel slots in two opposite sides of said housing through which one of the ends of said arms extend, `and means for moving said marker vertically across said surface including a lever pivoted atone end within said housing and extending outwardly of one of the sides of said housing, a slot in said latter side of the housing for permitting pivotal movement of the lever.

MARTIN DOERR.

CTI 

